7 Best Acne Products Consumer Reports 2019 – Top Rated

If you’ve ever suffered from acne, you understand how sensitive your skin really is. And with so many different factors contributing to your skin health, it can often be difficult finding that one acne treatment to keep it all under control. That’s why a multi-pronged approach involving the best face wash, best moisturizer, and best anti-aging cream for your skin type needs to be part of your daily routine.

You’re not alone. According to the NIH, roughly 80% of people between 11 and 30 have dealt with acne at some point in their lives. And according to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 50 million Americans are affected by acne each year.

Favourable Expert Tips

If you’re looking to achieve clearer skin, our list of the best products for treating acne is, of course, the best place to start. However, a clear complexion depends on a variety of other factors as well, so to assist you in your journey to clearer skin we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you attain the complexion of your dreams.

Types of acne:

Now, first things first, in order to determine the best course of treatment for acne you must first identify the root of the cause. The most common types of acne are comedonal acne, inflammatory acne, cystic and hormonal acne.

Comedonal acne ranges from mild to moderate. Comedonal acne is caused by a buildup of oil on the skin, along with old skin cells, which blocks pores and results in blackheads and whiteheads. Comedonal acne will most commonly develop in the “T zone.”

Inflammatory acne is a more severe form of acne and is caused by the area under the blackhead or whitehead becoming inflamed. Inflammatory acne will appear as red, inflamed bumps on the skin.

Cystic acne is the most severe form of acne and develops as a result of a breakout becoming infected. This type of acne is less common but can be very painful.

Hormonal acne is essentially inflammatory acne caused by hormonal fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle. Hormonal acne will usually occur at the same time each month in the same spot every time, most commonly on the chin and cheeks.

What to look for in acne treatment:

The most effective acne treatment will definitely vary by skin type, as well as the type of acne being treated, but regardless of skin type, we recommend something with a good pH balance. Now, what does that mean to you? Believe it or not, the health of your skin is completely dependent on maintaining the right balance between acidity and alkalinity. According to Women’s Health, a slightly more acidic balance of 5.5 is the sweet spot. Too much alkalinity will result in dry, sensitive skin (sometimes even eczema), while too much acidity (though less common) will cause intense, painful breakouts. Thankfully it’s pretty easy to equalize the levels, just be sure to find a product advertised as pH balanced.

Now, let’s talk ingredients.

Mild to moderate comedonal and inflammatory acne can be easily treated by topical creams or gels. We recommend looking for something with retinoids such as Retin-A, Differin, Renova, or Tazorac, which work to unclog pores. For those with more moderate comedonal or inflammatory acne, an oral antibiotic—doxycycline, tetracycline, minocycline, and erythromycin are a few of the most common—combined with a retinoid will help to kill the bacteria clogging the pores in the first place.

Severe inflammatory and cystic acne will require more extreme options. One of the most common treatment options for severe acne is Isotretinoin, which has the ability to clear up severe breakouts and scarring within a matter of months. Do be aware that this medication can result in a host of unwanted side effects, so we recommend talking to your doctor if you think this may be a viable option for you. Another option for clearing up severe inflammatory and cystic acne is laser or light treatment, which will reduce inflammation and kill acne-causing bacteria. While there are over-the-counter light treatment products available, we highly recommend discussing this option with your doctor as well.

Hormonal acne can usually be cleared up by an oral contraceptive. Again, we suggest talking to your doctor about the best option for you.

Creating a skincare routine:

Developing a skin care routine and sticking to it is essential to achieving clearer skin, but skin can become dry and irritated with too much washing. So while there is strong debate surrounding how many times to wash your face daily, cleansing once a day is likely fine for most people. If you wear makeup, however, you will want to always remove that before bed. Additionally, sweat can clog pores, so we recommend always washing your face after exercise as well.

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